Oldies dance in Westwego sets senior citizens' toes tapping

Hundreds of senior citizens from across the area recently gathered for the Jefferson Parish Senior Citizens second annual Gala Dance, this one with an oldies theme.

Susan Poag, The Times-Picayune
Dressed as Carmen Miranda, Evelyn Cancella of Metairie joins in a line dance during the Jefferson Parish Senior Citizens dance
at the Alario Center in Westwego. Disc jockey Ronnie Schouest played favorites from the 50s through current popular hits for the crowd of more than 500 senior citizens.

Some participants arrived at the Alario Center on the West Bank dressed in attire reminiscent of earlier decades, including poodle skirts and varsity cardigans. Food, was sold to match 1950s prices, which meant hot dogs went for 25 cents.

"It started last year when I was watching a TV program of a movie called 'Bikini Beach' with Frankie Avalon," said Wayne Ory, Jefferson Parish senior citizens coordinator. "So, I said, 'You know something? I'm going to put together a gala dance going back to the '40, '50s and '60s.' "

Margaret Boudreaux said the event reminded her of her younger days.

"I used to love to jitterbug and when I got married, we took dancing lessons and I learned how to do all of the dances," she said. "I learned how to waltz, jitterbug, cha-cha, samba and rumba. The only thing I haven't learned yet is Cajun dancing. That's the next thing I'll because I see how fun it is."

Ory said there is a lack of events such as the gala for senior citizens to enjoy.

"This is one of the biggest dances that they have for seniors,
because seniors don't really have events like this," he said. "Many of them don't go out at night. So, we had it during the day."

Susan Poag, The Times-PicayuneDisc Jockey Ronnie Schouest joins in a line dance.

"This is something that President John Young and the council believe in. They believe in improving the quality of life for senior citizens in Jefferson Parish and the surrounding centers," he said. "There are 86,000-plus seniors in Jefferson Parish over the age of 60. So, as you can very well see, the baby boomers are hitting us real hard and I'm also a senior myself."

Boudreaux said she enjoyed the event and saw it as a great honor.

"It was absolutely wonderful," Boudreaux said. "It's wonderful to see that we have so many people who are still alive and enjoying this and that Jefferson Parish is honoring us as senior citizens."

Along with being an honor, the gala gave participants the opportunity to feel young again.

"It's important to keep our spirits up, to keep us thinking young and not letting yourself get old in your mind," Boudreaux said. "Your body can be getting old, but as long as your spirit and your mind is young, you're young. They say you're only as old or as young as you feel."